Why would I join the army if I can’t drive a Gundam!

Chapter 143 Marching Towards the West Coast

"came back?"

Seeing Makarius jump down from Steel Belle, Yudin, with great foresight, drove over and picked him up, who was carrying large bags and small packages.

"How have things been while I was away?"

After getting into the car, Markarius opened the large bag and took out the things he had brought for his underlings.

"Wow, that feels great!"

Yudin took a can of still-cold pineapple beer, took a big gulp, and then let out a satisfied burp.

"Everything is pretty normal, except that a pretty female nurse from the main medical team has arrived. I heard she came from side 7!"

"Why is the female nurse from Side 7 here on the front lines?"

Makarius asked curiously.

"I don't know, but their skill level is quite good. I guess they're here to study battlefield medic!"

"Indeed, the battlefield is a school where you can broaden your horizons!"

"By the way, boss, should we continue our march?"

"Yes, we're just waiting for the new recruits assigned to us to arrive, which should be in the next day or two!"

"New equipment again?"

"It's not exactly new, just a steel tank, but it's quite good for assaulting fortified positions!"

Markarius had already seen the RTX-440 at Cheyenne Mountain base, and based on his first impression, he really liked it. After all, it could transform, and who wouldn't love a transforming machine?

The jeep then drove into Renault's forward base, which had just been relocated. This city, located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, was among the first to be occupied by Zeon. At the time, the Zeon officers who occupied the city even dreamed of a wonderful life of skiing and hunting there in the winter.

After all, this city has always been known for these unique attractions, and the scenic Lake Tahoe is also nearby; even Kalmar visited it after arriving on Earth.

However, the good times were only yesterday. The Geon people never expected that they would only be able to hold this place for four months, and before summer was even over, the army would slink back to the west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Now, those officers who had made bold promises are busy urging their men to build defenses. Forget about skiing, they don't even have time to go to parties.

With a sudden stop, the car came to a halt in front of Makarius's tent. At that moment, the other pilots of the Red Dragon Squadron were also waiting there, eagerly anticipating the arrival of their mailbags in Yudin's vehicle.

Marcarius also shared the drinks and food he brought with these guys. Although they were just carbonated drinks and desserts, they were exactly what everyone was looking for. Just like the cigarette supplies that Marcarius didn't smoke, these guys would rack their brains to get an extra puff of cigarettes. After all, for soldiers on the front lines, before the unpredictable death came, every meal could be regarded as their last meal, so it was only good to have something to eat.

After entering his tent, Makarius found the room quite tidy, with even a bouquet of flowers in a vase on his small table, which, judging from their freshness, must have been put up that day.

"This is something Captain Nagase has been in charge of!"

After following Makarius into the room, Yudin placed the other man's luggage on the ground and then explained.

"Okay, go ahead and do your thing!"

Makarius nodded, then took out a copy from his package and headed towards the female soldiers' dormitory.

"You're back. Do we have any new tasks?"

Nagase Hotaru was flipping through the operating manual for the G3 Gundam in her tent when she saw Macarius enter. Without even looking up, she grabbed an apple from beside her and tossed it to him.

"Yes, but the order will be issued after the new recruit arrives!"

Marcarius placed his belongings on the table and then began to casually nibble on an apple.

"It's quite sweet, where did it come from?"

"The maintenance team bought these from somewhere; there were quite a few pistachios, but they've all been eaten!"

"These heartless people, they didn't even leave me any!"

As Makarius got up, he discovered that there was another bed in the tent in front of him, with a neat military blanket and pillow on it.

When did you get a roommate?

"A female nurse who was just transferred here a couple of days ago is a wonderful friend!"

"That's good. This way, the male-to-female ratio in the brigade is moving a little closer to balance!"

Makarius nodded. After all, not everyone likes to spend all day squatting with a bunch of men. He'd had enough of that kind of life at military school!

Just as the two were discussing the recent situation, a blonde female soldier with short, shoulder-length hair, her general's uniform sleeves rolled up and a medical armband wrapped around her arm, walked into the tent. Upon seeing Markarius, she was taken aback for a moment before hurriedly raising her arm in salute.

"Major, oh no, Captain!"

"Hello there!"

Looking at the other person's face, which was somewhat similar to his memory, Markarius couldn't help but want to go back to Cheyenne Mountain Base and yell at someone, "Who the hell sent me that duck girl?"

Although his heart was in turmoil, Makarius returned the greeting calmly and casually, and then spoke in a very ordinary manner.

"You're the new nurse?"

"Yes, my name is Seramas, and I was transferred from side 7!"

"Judging from your accent, you don't sound like you're from Earth?"

"Yes, I'm from Texas, side 5!"

"Is there anyone else at home?"

"They're gone, they've all passed away!"

"Oh, please accept my condolences. I have a friend who is in the same boat. His parents are gone, his adoptive parents are gone, and he only has a younger sister left, who he has now lost. It's such a tragedy!"

Makarius sighed, then changed the subject. "But it's alright. Once you're here with the Red Dragon Brigade, make yourself at home. If you have any problems, just let me know. If Dr. Hartmann can't solve it, come to me. Don't hesitate to ask!"

"As ordered!"

"Okay, you can all disband now. I'm leaving first. I haven't piloted a Gundam for several days, so I'm a bit rusty. Oh, right, you're a new recruit too. You should have a welcome ceremony, but we'll do it together with the next batch of troops when they arrive!"

As Sera watched Makarius leave, she couldn't help but frown. She truly hadn't expected the renowned Red Dragon to be so young.

Moreover, there was something more to what the other person said!
As Deakin's daughter, she had always considered herself to be very good at keeping secrets, but this unexpected transfer still left her at a loss. After all, normally there was no way she could be transferred to the Red Dragon Brigade, but the order just came like that, which she couldn't understand at all.

She once thought her identity had been exposed, but after arriving at the Red Dragon Brigade, she was neither monitored nor placed under house arrest. Every day, she went to get off work and came home as normally as she had before in Side 7. Apart from the slightly harsh living conditions, it was almost no different from before.

This really put her in a bit of a bind!

However, being transferred here from Side 7 did her a great favor, as it brought her closer to Char Aznable, giving her the opportunity to ask him about something.

Moreover, she had heard that Zeon's Red Comet was no match for the Red Dragon at all, and every time they clashed, the dragon ended up fleeing in terror.

However, she has no chance at the moment and can only obediently go to get off work on time every day, waiting for the next step of the Federation Army's advance.

However, now that Red Dragon has returned from Cheyenne Mountain Base, it's clear that Sera's opportunity should be coming soon!
The next morning, while Sera was still asleep, a cheer suddenly woke her up. Curious, she stepped out of her tent and found that in the hangar belonging to the Red Dragon Squadron, three imposing, lead-gray machines were slowly being unloaded from the transport plane's hatch under the command of a maintenance officer.

"what is this?"

"RTX440 Ground Assault Steel Tank, the new equipment assigned to the Red Dragon Brigade, looks like we need to move in!"

Nagase Hotaru patted the other person on the shoulder and then said.

A new battle is about to begin!

Meanwhile, Makarius also met the three pilots of the Gundam: Captain Lieutenant Elenason and two sergeants, Minos Cape and Dorobukzoviu.

The pilots of the Assault Steel Tank were clearly very happy to be able to join the Red Dragon Squadron, especially the captain, Erin. She had previously been a member of the Steel Tank research project and was extremely reluctant when she learned that the project was going to be abandoned. She even volunteered to become a pilot, thinking that this might allow her to demonstrate the performance advantages of the Assault Steel Tank and change the opinions of those in power.

As the most skilled mobile suit pilot, Markarius is sure to have a keen eye for talent and might just be able to revive the project.

On the night the assault tanks arrived, everyone in the Red Dragon Squadron, including the pilots, tank crews, and logistics support units, gathered in the hangar for a party.

Illuminated by the headlights of two Type 61 tanks that were brought in specifically to serve as ambient lighting, Macarius jumped onto the feet of the G3 Gundam, which served as a podium, and then everyone in the entire battalion fell silent.

"First of all, let me raise a toast to everyone!"

"Marcarius, carrying a drink, shouted loudly."

"Thank you all for your hard work over the past few months!"

After finishing his drink, Makarius spoke again.

"Today, three more comrades have joined our ranks, along with Sergeant Theramas who was transferred earlier. I am very grateful to you for choosing to serve under me. This is from the bottom of my heart, because everyone knows what it means to come to the Red Dragon Brigade. From the time the colony fell until now, we have always been on the front line of the battlefield. Coming to the Red Dragon Brigade means that from now on, we will be accompanied by danger and death!"

"But I don't regret it, because I have witnessed countless deaths: colonies filled with poison gas, warships torn apart by particle cannons, residential areas covered by artillery fire. Those people should have been living in peaceful and comfortable homes, reunited with their families, but instead suffered undeserved calamities and became cold corpses!"

"Lieutenant Amuro once asked me a question about why I fight, and I asked him the same question. Do you know how he answered?"

He said, "I don't want to see anyone cry anymore!"

"Me too. Since the start of the war, the Zeon army has committed countless crimes, too numerous to count. The bodies of the innocent people they killed are still drifting in the cold space. So, this is why I chose to fight: for a truly peaceful and tranquil new world!"

"I will fight for this steadfastly until that moment truly arrives, so please, everyone, lend me your strength!"

"For peace!"

Makarius then raised his second drink.

Then, shouts from the crowd rang out.

"For peace!"

"Alright, everyone, eat and drink well, and have a great time!"

"Ura!!!"

Not only the Red Dragons, but almost all the Federal Army units in Renault held banquets or similar events around the same time, because even fiercer battles were about to begin, and it was uncertain how many people would survive.

Then, on July 3rd, four days after the Assault Steel Tank Squad arrived at the Red Dragon Battalion, the Union North American Command issued an order to advance.

As the most elite mobile combat unit of the Federation Army, the Red Dragon Battalion naturally received an attack order to cooperate with the 29th Division to capture the Tangna Pass ahead.

This is a vital transportation route located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, firmly guarding the road to San Francisco. Once you cross here, there will be no more obstacles between the Union Army and the California base!

After Zeon launched its second surrender operation, despite the rapid and successful offensive at the front, the Zeon army did not forget to build defensive lines by taking advantage of the terrain. The defensive line relying on the Sierra Nevada Mountains was the one they had been building the longest.

From the very first day the Zeon forces began their inland advance, construction began here, and this outer defensive line was still under construction even after Kalma arrived on Earth. The Zeon forces conscripted a massive amount of local labor for this purpose, and even built concentration camps directly in the mountains, intending to create an unshakeable land wall for the California base by relying on this labor force.

After the defeat at Salt Lake City, this defensive line once again received attention from the Zeon command, which even dispatched more professional engineers to Earth to further reinforce it.

To hold this defensive line, the Zeon forces went to great lengths, deploying a large number of forces, including five large land battleships like the Dabude-class, behind the line. After all, they had already experienced the power of the Federation's land battleships.

Now, this defensive line is guarded by tens of thousands of combat troops, including thousands of armored vehicles and countless artillery pieces.

Even before the Federation forces recaptured Renault, Kalmar led his men to inspect the preparations of the defensive line.

Then, the commander of the 2nd Zeon Division, who was in charge of this defensive line, made the bold statement that this place would never fall.

So now is the time for the Federation forces to test the value of their words!

(End of this chapter)